Upgrading a Graphics Card Please Help!

Caleb421 · Aug 3, 2014

I have an old Dell Optiplex 745 Desktop version, 280w PSU with on board graphics and 1GB of RAM. I was wanting to add more RAM and get a graphics card that can handle some light gaming like Team Fortress 2 or other similar games but I have 2 Problems, I don't want to spend a lot of money and i'm not a computer expert. What would be a good choice for me? I was looking at a Saphire Radeon HD 6570 or 6450 but I am not sure. Thank you for your time.

I know their are a lot of threads about this topic but I feel like I still need help.

clutchc · Aug 3, 2014

What's your top dollar you can spend on a gfx card? Just to verify, which one of these Dell Optiplex 745 cases is yours?

Caleb421 · Aug 3, 2014

Thanks for replying!
I have the Desktop (DT) version and since this is my old junker lol I dont want to spend more than 50$ on a GPU.

clutchc · Aug 4, 2014

You are going to be limited to low profile card in that slim line PC. As a result, the HD 6450 is about the best you'll be able to do at that price new.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600038363%20600038364%20600144171&IsNodeId=1&Order=PRICE&Pagesize=20

You might try ebay for a used card with a bit more performance. What resolution is your monitor and what CPU do you have?

Caleb421 · Aug 4, 2014

My monitor resolution is 1600x900 and my processor is an Intel Pentium D 3.00Ghz, not very good but it gets the job done.

And thank you so much for your help, the 6450 seems like it should be able to do everything I need it to...if anything it will still be a whole lot better compared to the integrated graphics, i'm just worried about installation now, I've never installed anything in a computer so i'm worried I might mess something up.

clutchc · Aug 4, 2014

This video of a gfx card installation in a Dell Optiplex GX745 Desktop should be close enough yours to see how simple it is. Basically, you remove the blank expansion cover, insert the card in the PCIex16 slot, move your monitor cable to the card instead of the integrated, and turn on the PC. When you get to Windows, the display may be low resolution until you load the gfx driver that comes with the card. (You can probably get later drivers at the card's website if you prefer)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vRTGZqUOiY

Caleb421 · Aug 4, 2014

Ok sweet! The video really helped, and so have you. Thanks!

( stupid question: will I need a different monitor cable?)

clutchc · Aug 4, 2014

Caleb421 :

What are you using now? Digital video is better than analog. If you connect via HDMI or DVI, you will have less video issues than VGA. And slightly better fidelity of picture.

If you are using anything other than an old fashioned CRT, the display is digital. The card produces a digital signal. So HDMI or DVI is the native signal. VGA (analog) requires the signal to be converted leaving the card from digital to analog. Then when it arrives at the monitor, it has to be converted back from VGA (analog) to digital again. Each one of those conversions (D/A and A/D) can introduce noise and signal loss to the picture.

Caleb421 · Aug 4, 2014

Sadly i'm stuck with the VGA cable at the moment.

clutchc · Aug 4, 2014

Caleb421 :

If your monitor has DVI or HDMI, grab a new cable when you can and go digital
In the meantime, the card may come with a DVI to HDMI adapter. If not, you can pick one up at Amazon, Newegg, etc pretty cheap. Probably even at a Walmart.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3Advi+to+vga+adapter%2Ci%3Aelectronics&keywords=dvi+to+vga+adapter&ie=UTF8&qid=1407201390

Caleb421 · Aug 4, 2014

Yeah my monitor has a DVI port so I will just pick one up one up. Thanks.

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